200537261 (1) 九、發明說明 【發明所屬之技術領域】 本發明有關用於供給碳粉至諸如影印機、傳 印表機之電子攝影式影像形成設備的碳粉瓶，用 碳粉瓶之方法，包含該碳粉瓶及一蓋子之碳粉容 該碳粉容器及碳粉之碳粉匣，配備有該碳粉匣之 設備，及影像形成方法。在本發明中，如所使用 “碳粉”一詞意指廣義的，且其意義擴大至在商 之顯像劑。 【先前技術】 於傳統之電子攝影式影像形成設備中，顯像？ 點上被供給，其中包含一顯像劑之容器以可附接2 之方式被水平地安裝至影像形成設備之一主體，ί 器係轉動繞著該容器之軸心。 於此等用於供給一顯像劑之裝置或用於供給-之容器中，日本專利特許公開申請案（JP-A ) 1 462 6 5及9 - 3 1 1 5 3 5號揭示一用於可旋轉地驅動Ρ 器之齒輪、或一被同心地安裝至顯像劑容器之本骨 齒輪。建構這些用於供給一顯像劑之容器，使得用 一顯像劑之孔口係形成在具有一底部之圓柱形容器 一端部，且螺旋狀之凹入部份被沿著該軸心形成； 繞著該軸心轉動該容器主體，該碳粉被該螺旋狀之 份所引導及運送，而將該軸心維持在大約水平之文 機、及 生產該 ，包含 像形成 者，該 上利用 在某一 可分開 著該容 顯像劑 第 60- 柱形容 的傳動 於供給 主體之 藉由環 凹入部 向，藉 200537261 (2) 此該碳粉經過影像形成設備之供給孔口被供給至該顯像部 份。 特別地是，如在JP-A第 60-146265號中所述，一碳 粉供給裝置之碳粉匣係如圖8所示地製成，譬如；圖8中 之參考數字8 0指示一碳粉匣，8 1指示用於供給一碳粉之 孔口，82指示一螺旋狀肋條，83指示一當作用於轉動碳 粉匣80之傳動齒輪的環齒輪，及84指示由螺旋狀肋條82 0 所形成而用於運送該碳粉之螺旋狀凹入部份。 再者，製成在JP-A第9-3 1 1 5 3 5號中所述用於供給一 顯像劑之裝置，以致沈積在碳粉容器之內部表面的剩餘碳 粉量可減至最小。如圖9中所顯示，環齒輪9 5係設在碳 粉瓶91之引出孔口 92側邊當作一傳動齒輪，該齒輪95 係與驅動齒輪97嚙合，該驅動齒輪97之齒部被故意地局 部消除；碳粉瓶之間歇旋轉運動91可對該碳粉瓶造成震 動。於圖9中，參考數字93指示該碳粉瓶之軸心，94指 1 示一用於該內面之螺旋狀引導保護裝置，該內面形成用於 運送碳粉之螺旋狀凹面94a，96指示一驅動馬達，及T指 示一碳粉。 然而，於該先前技藝中，諸如圖8所顯示之碳粉匣8 0 及圖9所顯示之碳粉瓶的顯像劑供給容器每一個配備有一 傳動齒輪，該傳動齒輪之齒根圓直徑或該齒輪之外徑係大 於該瓶體之直徑，且製成使得該傳動齒輪與該瓶體呈同心 設置。因此，傳動齒輪之外圍由該瓶體之外面朝外延伸， 如此，該齒部通常在處理容器、諸如包裝及運送時遭受損 -6 - 200537261 (3) 壞。爲了避免此一問題，該顯像劑供給容器應隨同一特定 之吸震材料被包裝及運送。 該傳統顯像劑供給容器典型爲塑膠之模製產品。這些 模製產品典型藉著一直接吹出成形法生產，可替代的是主 要藉著射出成形生產，接著該結果之主體被插入一特定鑄 模及在某些條件之下遭受雙軸伸展之吹出成形。然而’既 然預期之形狀係一環齒輪被設在外部側邊上，在此一螺旋 狀凹面係形成在一容器本體上，射出成形或該雙軸伸展吹 出成形之模子結構係非常複雜化；此外，既然該環齒輪被 設置在該瓶體之較薄部份，在此存具有一些問題，即該肋 條結構係極可能複雜化，且該瓶體之厚度應被增加。 【發明內容】 本發明之一目的是提供一碳粉瓶，其中在處理該碳粉 瓶’諸如處理、包裝、及運送時損害該環齒輪、特別是該 環齒輪之齒部的可能性顯著地被壓制；如此主要能夠作沒 有吸震材料之包裝及運送；及亦提供一用於生產該碳粉瓶 之方法、一包含該碳粉瓶及蓋子之碳粉容器、一包含已充 滿碳粉的碳粉容器之碳粉匣、一配備有該碳粉匣之影像形 成設備、及一影像形成方法。 本發明之另一目的係提供一碳粉瓶，其中該瓶體之壁 面厚度不需要加厚，另外該肋條結構係相當簡單，用於強 化該瓶體；及亦提供一用於生產該碳粉瓶之方法、一包含 該碳粉瓶及蓋子之碳粉容器、一包含已充滿碳粉的碳粉容 -7- 200537261 (4) 器之碳粉匣、一配備有該碳粉匣之影像形成設備、及一影 像形成方法。 這些目的被藉著本發明所達成。 按照本發明提供一碳粉瓶，其包含一圓柱形瓶子’其 具有一底部；一圓柱形孔口，其用於供給碳粉；及一環齒 輪， 其中一螺旋狀凹面沿著該圓柱形瓶子之軸心被形成在 該圓柱形瓶子之側壁上， 該圓柱形孔口被設置在該圓柱形瓶子之一端部’該圓 柱形孔口係與該圓柱形瓶子同心，及該圓柱形孔口之外徑 係比該圓柱形瓶子之外徑較小， 該環齒輪被設置在該圓柱形孔口上，該環齒輪係與該 圓柱形孔口同心，及該環齒輪之齒根圓直徑係比該圓柱形 瓶子之外徑較小。 於根據本發明之碳粉瓶中，該環齒輪之齒部不會突出 超過該圓柱形瓶子之外部表面；因此，在此由於處理有極 小之損害該齒部的可能性，諸如處理、包裝、及運送。因 此，本發明之碳粉瓶能被大體上沒有吸震材料地包裝及運 送。 此外，本發明之碳粉瓶典型被充滿一碳粉及以一蓋子 被安裝，以生產一碳粉匣。當該碳粉匣被安裝至影像形成 設備之一顯像單元時，碳粉瓶之圓柱形孔口與該蓋子之密 封構件的緊密接觸可導致該圓柱形孔口之一充分密封狀 態，並伴隨著該碳粉匣之一充分支撐狀態，藉此可在該碳 -8- 200537261 (5) 粉供給機制防止碳粉之滲漏或漏出。因此，該圓柱形孔口 之支撐狀態可爲更加穩定，且設置在該圓柱形孔口之環齒 輪可穩定地維持該轉速。換句話說，設置在該穩定位置之 環齒輪可導致該碳粉瓶之較高轉動準確性。 再者，該碳粉瓶可被更確定地支撐，因爲該環齒輪至 少局部被該圓柱形瓶子之外表面所保護，而該圓柱形瓶子 之外表面的外徑大於該環齒輪之齒根圓的直徑。 $ 較佳地是，該環齒輪離該圓柱形孔口之端面被設置有 5毫米至20毫米之一空間。 較佳地是，該圓柱形瓶子之外徑及該環齒輪之齒根圓 直徑間之差値係1毫米至5毫米。 較佳地是，該碳粉瓶在該圓柱形瓶子之一端部另包含 一連接及延伸部份，其中該連接及延伸部份之圓柱形孔口 的內徑係比該圓柱形瓶子之內徑較小，一用於引導該碳粉 之螺旋路徑被設在該連接及延伸部份上，且該環齒輪被連 ^ 接至該連接及延伸部份之邊緣。 這些特色可導致該碳粉之平順及快速餵入，並可對該 碳粉瓶提供較少之重量及較高之強度。 較佳地是，該環齒輪之齒部寬度係2毫米或更多，尤 其該環齒輪之齒部寬度係4毫米至6毫米。 這些特色可導致該環齒輪之較局機械強度，該環齒輪 與一驅動齒輪之更穩定嚙合’如此使該環齒輪有更精確之 轉速。譬如’當給與追些特色時，諸如聚乙燒對苯二甲酸 酯（PET )之塑膠齒輪可提供充分之機械強度。 200537261 (6) 較佳地是，該環齒輪被設在該圓柱形孔口上’該孔口 之壁面厚度係比該環齒輪之齒部寬度較薄，該環齒輪包含 一與該圓柱形孔口同心之圓盤，及同心地連接至該圓盤之 外部邊緣的環齒，且該圓盤之壁面厚度W3及該圓柱形孔 口之壁面厚度W2是呈下列關係：W3 = W2±2毫米。 更佳地是，該圓盤之壁面厚度W3及該圓柱形孔口之 壁面厚度W2分別是1毫米至4毫米。 0 該圓盤及該圓柱形孔口之壁面厚度大體上是相同之特 色可防止塑膠材料射出成形中之凹痕，如此可增強該齒輪 齒部之尺寸準確性。 較佳地是，一用於饌入該碳粉之孔口被形成在該圓柱 形瓶子之底部，一形狀像薄片或像平板之密封構件被黏著 至用於餵入該碳粉之孔口，且該密封構件能夠打開及關閉 用於餵入該碳粉之孔口。 此特色可在瓶子淸洗或碳粉再充塡上提供便利性或簡 ^ 單性，如此可輕易提供碳粉瓶之再循環，及可確保其再利 用。 較佳地是，該碳粉瓶係一模製塑膠產品，其配備有一 與該圓柱形瓶子一體成形之環齒輪，且該塑膠係選自包括 聚乙烯對苯二甲酸酯樹脂、聚乙烯樹脂、聚丙烯樹脂、聚 氯乙烯樹脂、聚醯胺樹脂、聚苯乙烯樹脂、及聚碳酸酯樹 脂之族群。 這些特色可免除手動地組裝該環齒輪及該圓柱形瓶 子，且亦可移去由於手動處理而可能之騷亂，藉此利於碳 •10- 200537261 (7) 粉瓶之較高尺寸之準確性。 於本發明之另一態樣中，提供一用於生產上述碳粉瓶 之方法。根據本發明之方法包含使用該環齒輪當作一支撐 環使一中空之圓柱形塑坯設定進入一模子工具，並具有一 用於轉動該碳粉瓶之環齒輪，加熱包含該中空圓柱形塑坯 之模子工具，注射加壓氣體進入該中空圓柱形塑坯之中空 孔腔，藉此使該中空之圓柱形塑坯遭受雙軸伸展及吹出成 形。 較佳地是，該中空之圓柱形塑坯係藉著射出成形所形 成。 於該生產方法中，上述碳粉瓶可被生產爲一體成形之 塑膠產品，並包含一環齒輪及一圓柱形瓶子。 於本發明之另一態樣中，可提供一碳粉容器；根據本 發明之碳粉容器包含一選自那些上述者之碳粉瓶及一蓋 子，其中附接至該碳粉瓶之蓋子覆蓋該圓柱形孔口及其鄰 近區域，而暴露該環齒輪之齒部。 較佳地是，一碳粉出口被設在該盖子之一*位置’在此 位置該蓋子覆蓋該圓柱形孔口，且提供一閘板，用於打開 及封閉該碳粉出口。 較佳地是5該碳粉容器經過該蓋子於一特定位置中以 可附接及可分開之方式被安裝至一影像形成設備’及該閘 板係能夠打開。 於本發明之另一態樣中，可提供一碳粉匣；根據本發 明之碳粉匣包含上述該碳粉容器’而一碳粉已塡入該碳粉 -11 - 200537261 (8) 容器。 於該碳粉匣中，可於電子攝影式影像形成設備之使用 期間防止該碳粉之滲漏或漏出，如此可譬如對操作員提供 便利性及/或可利用性。 於本發明之另一態樣中，可提供一影像形成設備；根 據本發明之影像形成設備包含一光電導體；一靜電潛像形 成單元，其架構成可在該光電導體上形成一靜電影像；一 顯像單元，其架構成可藉著一碳粉使該靜電潛像顯像’以 形成一可見影像；一轉印單元，其架構成可在一記錄媒介 上轉印該可見影像；及一固著單元，其架構成可固著該記 錄媒介上之轉印影像， 其中上述該碳粉匣以可附接及可分開之方式經過該蓋 子被安裝至該影像形成設備，且由該碳粉匣供給該碳粉。 於該影像形成設備中，用於轉動該碳粉瓶之改善準確 性可造成該碳粉之更穩定餵入該顯像劑。再者，用於轉動 該碳粉瓶的齒輪之強化機械強度可避免以下缺點，即在最 初充滿之所有該碳粉由於齒輪之意外損壞而被耗盡之前， 該碳粉匣應該被拋棄之缺點。 於本發明之另一態樣中，可提供一影像形成方法；該 影像形成方法包含在一光電導體表面上形成一靜電潛像， 藉著碳粉使該靜電潛像顯像以形成一可見影像，在一記錄 媒介上轉印該可見影像’及固著該記錄媒介上所轉印之影 像， 其中採用該影像形成設備’而根據申請專利範圍第1 7 -12- 200537261 (9) 項之碳粉匣係經過該蓋子以可附接及可分開之方式安裝至 該影像形成設備，且由該碳粉匣供給該碳粉。 於該影像形成方法中，用於轉動該碳粉瓶之改善準確 性可造成該碳粉之更穩定餵入該顯像劑。再者，用於轉動 該碳粉瓶的齒輪之強化機械強度可避免以下缺點，即在最 初充滿之所有該碳粉由於齒輪之意外損壞而被耗盡之前， 該碳粉匣應該被拋棄之缺點。 【實施方式】 本發明將參考各圖面詳細地被說明。 <第一模式> 圖1係一局部橫截面正視圖，其顯示一模製產品之碳 粉瓶1 0的整個結構，其中該蓋子被移去。藉著附接一蓋 子（未示出）至碳粉瓶1 0之圓柱形孔口 1 5製成一碳粉容 φ 器。在碳粉瓶1 0之圓柱形瓶子1 1之側壁上，螺旋狀凹面 1 2及強化之螺旋狀肋條1 3 a被沿著該軸心1 4形成，且線 性肋條1 3 b被與該軸心1 4平行地形成。該圓柱形瓶子1 1 具有一底部。 用於供給碳粉之圓柱形孔口 1 5被設在圓柱形瓶子1 1 之一軸向端部，該圓柱形孔口〗5係與圓柱形瓶子】1同 心。圓柱形孔口 15具有某一長度及具有一入口之作用， 用於供給該碳粉進入一影像形成設備之顯像部份（未不 出）’且圓柱形孔口 1 5之端部對應於碳粉供給入口 5 a ° -13- 200537261 (10) 跑圓柱形瓶子1 1同心之環趟輪〗8或像凸緣之趟輪被δ受在 圓柱形孔口 1 5上。此外’與圓柱形瓶子1 1同心之連接及 延伸部份丨6與肩部1 7被提供於圓柱形瓶子1 1之前緣及 圓柱形孔口 1 5之間。 碳粉瓶具有結構之特色’其中該環齒輪18之齒根 圓直徑係小於形成該螺旋狀凹面12的圓柱形瓶子11之外 徑，且該環齒輪具有轉動該碳粉容器而當作一傳動齒輪之 作用，並與圓柱形孔口 1 4同心地設置；環齒輪1 8被設在 0 圓柱形孔口 1 5上；環齒輪之齒部的寬度 '亦即齒寬係2 毫米或更多；且連接及延伸部份16被提供成具有一特定 之結構。 相向於底部2 1並連接至圓柱形瓶子1 1之前緣的連接 及延伸部份1 6係一引導該碳粉之路線。該連接及延伸部 份1 6由圓柱形瓶子Π之側邊向下至圓柱形孔口 1 5之側 邊逐漸變細。環齒輪1 8可位在圓柱形孔口 1 5之任何位 | 置；圖1顯示一模式，其中環齒輪18係坐落連接至連接 及延伸部份I 6之邊緣。 於圖1中，參考數字19及20是用於嚙合及安裝一蓋 子（未示出）至圓柱形瓶子1 1之圓柱形孔口 1 5的構件； 參考數字1 9係一環底端，以於密封方式中附接該蓋子； 參考數字20係一用於防止蓋子之脫離的環套圈。一具有 閘板之蓋子工具導致輕易之包裝及運送，而不需如稍早敘 述之吸震材料。 此結構之圓柱形瓶子1 1能被雙軸伸展地吹出成形， -14- 200537261 (11) 如稍後所敘述者。 由圓柱形瓶子 Π及該蓋子（未示出）所形成之碳粉 容器（未示出）能以一可附接及可分開之方式被安裝於影 像形成設備之顯像零件中，並於大約水平之方向中具有軸 心1 4。然後，藉著轉動該驅動齒輪環繞著軸心1 4轉動該 碳粉容器，而嚙合環齒輪18與該驅動齒輪，可導致藉著 螺旋凹面1 2引導及運送圓柱形瓶子1 1中所包含之碳粉， _ 藉此經過圓柱形孔口 1 5供給該碳粉至該顯像部份。 於該碳粉瓶及該碳粉容器之結構中，該環齒輪之齒部 不會突出超過該圓柱形瓶子之外表面；因此，在此有由於 諸如處理、包裝、及運送等處理而損壞該齒部之極小可能 性。較佳地是，譬如圖1所示之碳粉瓶係在該碳粉本體之 底部21配備有一碳粉餵入孔□(未示出），及一像薄片 或像平板密封構件，其能夠以一可附接及可分開之方式打 開及關閉該碳粉餵入孔口，並能夠確保該碳粉瓶之再循環 _ 利用。 較佳地是，譬如圖1所示之碳粉瓶1 〇及該蓋子（未 示出）能夠附接該結果之碳粉容器；其中當該蓋子被附接 至該碳粉瓶時，該蓋子覆蓋該圓柱形孔口 15及其鄰近區 域，而暴露環齒輪1 8之齒部。此外，其較佳的是一閘板 被設在該蓋子之一位置，在此該蓋子覆蓋該圓柱形孔口’ 使得當該碳粉容器於一特定位置中被安裝至電子攝影式影 像形成設備時打開該閘板。 再者，根據本發明將碳粉充塡至該碳粉容器可提供一 -15- 200537261 (12) 根據本發明之碳粉匣；然後該碳粉匣可藉著應用一蓋子被 附接至電子攝影式影像形成設備。 <第二模式> 圖2顯示一碳粉瓶之圓柱形孔口及其鄰近區域之正視 圖，該碳粉瓶係藉著嚙合一塑膠環齒輪至一塑膠圓柱形瓶 子所形成。圖3A顯示一圓柱形瓶子之代表性結構於嚙合 | 一環齒輪之前的正視圖；圖3 B係該側視圖。圖4 A係一正 視圖，其顯示該環齒輪之結構；圖4B係該剖面圖。 圖2所示碳粉瓶3 0係藉著嚙合一具有不折不扣的環 狀之塑膠環齒輪41至圖3A及3B所示塑膠圓柱形瓶子31 所製成，該碳粉瓶之基本結構大體上係與圖1所示者相 同。特別地是，用於供給碳粉之圓柱形孔口 3 2被設在圖 3A及3B所示圓柱形瓶子31之一前面部份；凸緣33被提 供於該圓柱形孔口及圓柱形瓶子3 1之間；及一對彼此相 φ 向之突出部份34被形成在凸緣33之外表面上。此外，環 套圈35被形成在圓柱形孔口 32上；用於防止齒輪脫離之 環突出部份3 6被形成在凸緣3 3之前緣。環套圈3 5對應 於環套圈2 0，用於防止圖1所示蓋子之脫離；環突出部份 3 6亦施行當作一環對抵接頭，以於一密封狀態中附接該蓋 子（未示出）。在另一方面，對應於凸面34之凹面42被 形成在環齒輪41上，如圖4A及4B所示。 至於各個零件之尺寸，譬如，環齒輪4 1之內徑D 1係 3 4.2毫米；環突出部份36之外徑D2係34毫米；凸緣33 -16 - 200537261 (13) 之外徑D3係34.1毫米；環齒輪4】之國寬W1係5.5毫 米；及凸緣33之寬度W2係6毫米。 當圖2所示碳粉瓶30被製成時’環齒輪41被插入該 餵入孔口 3 2側邊之碳粉瓶3 0，接著通過環套圈3 5及環突 出部份3 6，且被插入及裝入凸緣3 3。於該結構中，凹面 42被裝入突出部份34。 $ <第三模式〉 圖5係一局部之剖面圖，其顯示一碳粉瓶之基本結 構。爲塑膠模製產品之碳粉瓶5 0大體上具有與圖1所示 者相同之結構，其中環齒輪51係與圓柱形瓶子52 —體成 形。 碳粉瓶5 0具有諸特色，即該圓柱形孔口 5 3之壁面厚 度W3係比環齒輪齒部5 1 b之齒寬W1 (例如W1 : 5 .5毫 米，W3:2毫米）較薄，其中環齒輪51被設成與圓柱形 φ 孔口 5 3同心，該環齒輪51由一與圓柱形孔口 5 3同心之 圓盤5 1 a及與該圓盤5 1 a之外緣同心地連接的環齒5 1 b所 構成，且該圓盤51a之壁面厚度W3大體上係與圓柱形孔 口 53之壁面厚度W2相同。 (生產碳粉瓶之方法） 本發明用於生產一碳粉瓶之方法能生產根據本發明之 碳粉瓶。本發明之方法視需求而定包含塑坯設定、吹出成 形、及另一處理。 -17- 200537261 (14) 於該塑坯設定中，設有一用於轉動該碳粉瓶之環齒輪 的中空圓柱形塑坯被使用當作一支撐環之環齒輪設定在一 模子工具中，其中該環齒輪被與一用於支撐碳粉之圓柱形 孔口同心地設定。較佳地是，該塑坯係藉著~射出成形法 所生產。 於該吹出成形中，該塑坯被加熱，接著加壓氣體被注 射進入該塑坯之中空孔腔，且該塑坯係遭受雙軸伸展及吹 g 出成形。 該雙軸伸展及吹出成形中之條件、諸如該加壓氣體之 壓力及該已加熱模子工具之溫度可視該模製材料、預期之 形狀等而定被適當地選擇；譬如於聚乙烯對苯二甲酸酯 (PET)樹脂之案例中，該加壓氣體之壓力可爲〇·5至10 百萬巴，該已加熱塑坯之溫度可爲攝氏90至120度。 具有如圖5所示一體式環齒輪之碳粉瓶50可藉著射 出成形如圖6所示之一塑坯或型坯60所生產，譬如設定 I 該塑坯或型坯60進入一具有預定架構之模子工具，及遭 受一雙軸伸展與吹出成形。該塑坯或型坯60可由PET樹 脂或PET及聚乙烯樹脂之一混合物所生產。 特別地是，中空圓柱形塑坯60被藉由一射出成形法 所生產，並呈一形狀，即用於轉動該碳粉瓶之環齒輪61 係同心地設有用於供給一碳粉之圓柱形孔口 62，接著該塑 坯60藉著利用該環齒輪61當作一支撐環被設定在模製工 具70中；及該模製工具70被加熱，且加壓氣體被吹入該 塑坯70之中空孔腔，如此可經過雙軸伸展及吹出成形獲 -18- 200537261 (15) 得一預期之碳粉瓶。於圖7中，參考數字72係一伸展栓 銷，73係一托載栓銷。 (碳粉容器及碳粉匣） 本發明之碳粉容器包含本發明之碳粉瓶、一蓋子、閘 板、及其他視需求而疋之零件。當該蓋子被附接至該碳粉 瓶時，該蓋子覆蓋該圓柱形孔口 15及其鄰近區域。該蓋 _ 子之材料可視該應用而定被適當地選擇；譬如，可用諸如 聚苯乙烯樹脂、聚氯乙烯樹脂、聚乙烯樹脂、聚乙烯對苯 二甲酸酯樹脂、聚丙烯樹脂、聚甲醛樹脂、ABS樹脂、及 聚碳酸酯樹脂之熱塑性材料。 較佳地是，一碳粉出口及一打開及關閉該碳粉出口之 閘板被設在該蓋子之一位置，在此位置該蓋子覆蓋該圓柱 形孔口，使得該閘板打開或關閉該碳粉出口。再者，其較 佳的是使該蓋子以可附接及可分開之方式，該碳粉容器被 φ 安裝至影像形成設備，且該閘板能夠以一特定之方式被打 開。 將碳粉充塡進入根據本發明之碳粉容器可提供根據本 發明之碳粉匣。該碳粉可被適當地選自市售碳粉。 (影像形成設備及影像形成方法） 根據本發明之影像形成設備包含一靜電潛像承載構 件、靜電潛像形成單元、顯像單元、轉印單元及固著單 元，並且如果需要可另包含內部蓋子之一附接-分開機制 -19- 200537261 (16) 及其他單元，譬如電荷消除單元、淸洗單元、再循環單元 及控制單元。 根據本發明之影像形成方法包含一靜電潛像形成步 驟、顯像步驟、轉印步驟及固著步驟，並且如果需要可另 包含其他步驟，譬如，一電荷消除步驟、淸洗步驟、再循 環步驟及控制步驟。 根據本發明之碳粉匣以可附接及可分開之方式被安裝 至影像形成設備，且被製成可使一碳粉經由轉動該碳粉匣 被供給進入該顯像單元。 根據本發明之影像形成方法可被適當地應用至根據本 發明之影像形成設備。該靜電潛像形成步驟可藉著該靜電 潛像形成單元所施行，該顯像步驟可被該顯像單元所施 行，該轉印步驟可被該轉印單元所施行，及該固著步驟可 被該固著單元所施行。其他單元可施行其他步驟。 -靜電潛像形成步驟及靜電潛像形成單元-φ 該靜電潛像形成步驟係一在該靜電潛像承載構件形成 靜電潛像之步驟。 該靜電潛像承載構件（下文稱爲“光電導體”）係不 特別限於該材料、形狀、結構或尺寸，並可適當地選自該 技藝中習知者。譬如，其形狀可爲鼓狀，且其材料可爲一 無機；7½電導Η豆材料，諸如無結晶性砂或晒；或一有機之光 電導體，諸如聚矽烷或鈦菁。在這些材料之中，由長壽之 觀點，無結晶性矽係較佳的。 該靜電潛像可譬如藉著均勻地充電該靜電潛像承載構 -20- 200537261 (17) 件之表面、及成影像地照射該表面所形成，並可藉著該靜 電潛像形成單元所施行。 該靜電潛像形成單元譬如包含一充電器，其均勻地充 電該靜電潛像承載構件之表面；及一光線照射器，其使該 潛像載體之表面成影像地曝光。 可譬如藉著使用該充電器施加一電壓至該靜電潛像承 載構件之表面施行該充電。 I 該充電器未特別限制及可視該應用而定適當地選擇， 譬如該技藝中習知之接觸式充電器，諸如一導電或半導電 滾輪、刷子、薄膜或橡膠製刃片，及使用電暈放電之非接 觸式充電器，諸如電暈管及反佈電裝置（sc〇r〇tron)被當 作範例。 至於該充電構件，其形狀並未特別限制，且可譬如是 由一滾輪隔開之磁刷或一毛刷。其可根據一影像形成設備 之規格或架構適當地選擇。當一磁刷被用作該充電器時， φ 該磁刷包含一由各種鐵氧體微粒、諸如鋅-銅鐵氧體所形 成之靜電充電器，一支撐該靜電充電器之非磁性導電套 筒’及一包含在該非磁性導電套筒中之磁性滾輪。當一毛 刷被用作一充電器時，該毛刷之材料係譬如一毛皮，其藉 著以譬如碳、硫化銅、金屬或金屬氧化物處理而變得導 電’且該毛皮係盤捲或安裝至一金屬或另一藉著處理變得 導電之芯棒。 可藉著照射該靜電潛像承載構件之表面成影像地施行 該光線照射，譬如使用該光線照射器。 -21 - 200537261 (18) 該光線照射器未特別受限制，並可視所提供之應用而 定適當地選擇’其可使該靜電潛像承載構件之表面曝光， 該承載構件譬如係藉由該充電器以與形成影像相同之方式 所充電’諸如拷貝光學系統、棒透鏡列陣系統、雷射光學 系統及液晶快門光學系統之一光線照射器可當作範例。 此外’在本發明中，可採用一後光系統，其中該靜電 潛像承載構件被由其後方表面成影像地曝光。 (顯像方法及顯像單元） 該顯像步驟係一種使用由根據本發明之碳粉匣所供給 的碳粉使靜電潛像顯像之步驟，以形成一可見影像。 該可見影像可譬如藉著使用該碳粉或顯像劑使該靜電 潛像顯像所形成，並可藉著該顯像單元所施行。 該顯像單元不特別受限，倘若其可譬如藉著使用該碳 粉或顯像劑使一影像顯像，及可被由該技藝中所習知者之 φ 中適當地選擇。範例是那些包含一容置該碳粉之影像顯像 器、及能以接觸或未接觸至該靜電潛像地供給該碳粉者。 於該影像顯像器中，該碳粉及該載體可譬如被混合及 在一起攪拌。該碳粉藉此被藉著摩擦充電，並在該轉動之 磁鐵滾輪的表面上形成一磁刷。既然此磁鐵滾輪係配置接 近該光電導體，該磁刷在該磁鐵滾輪之表面上所形成之部 份碳粉由於電吸引力移至此光電導體之表面。其結果是， 該靜電潛像係藉著此碳粉所顯像，及一可見碳粉影像被形 成在此光電導體之表面上。 •22- 200537261 (19) -轉印步驟及轉印單元一 該轉印步驟係一種將該可見影像轉印至一記錄媒介之 步驟。於一較佳模式中，施行該第一轉印步驟，其中使用 一中間之影像轉印構件，該可見影像被轉印至該中間影像 轉印構件’且接著施行該第二轉印步驟，其中該可見影像 被轉印給一 錄媒介。於一更佳模式中，使用二或更多色 _ 彩之碳粉及較佳地是全彩碳粉，該主要轉印步驟將該可見 影像轉印至該中間影像轉印構件，以形成一複合之轉印影 像’且該等第二轉印步驟將此複合之轉印影像轉印至該記 錄媒介。 該轉印能譬如藉著使用一轉印充電器充電該光電導體 而被實現，並能藉著該轉印單元所施行。於一較佳模式 中，該轉印單元包含第一轉印單元，其轉印該可見影像至 該中間影像轉印構件，以形成一複合之轉印影像；及第二 φ 轉印單元，其轉印此複合之轉印影像至該記錄媒介。 該中間影像轉印構件未特別受限制，並可適當地選自 該技藝中所習知之轉印本體，譬如一轉印皮帶可當作範 例。 該第一轉印單元及該第二轉印單元之轉印單元較佳地 是包含一影像轉印器，其藉著釋放該靜電潛像承載構件或 光電導體上所形成之可見影像至該記錄媒介側而充電。在 此可爲一、二或更多該轉印單元。 該影像轉印器可爲一電暈轉印單元’其藉著電暈放 -23- 200537261 (20) 電、一轉印皮帶、一轉印滾輪、一壓力傳送滚輪或一黏附 轉印單元起作用。 該記錄媒介未特別受限制，並可適當地選自該技藝中 所習知之記錄媒介或記錄紙張之中。 該記錄媒介典型是普通紙，但未特別受限制’並可視 該應用而定被選擇，且譬如包含一用於頭頂式投影機 (Ο HP)之聚乙烯對苯二甲酸酯（PET)鹽基。 φ 該固著步驟係一種使用固著裝置將轉印給該記錄媒介 之可見影像固著之步驟。這可對於轉印至該記錄媒介之每 一顏色的顯像劑、或於當每一顏色之顯像劑已被層疊時之 一操作中進行。 該固著裝置未特別受限制，並可適當地選自該技藝中 所習知之熱及壓力單元。熱及壓力單元之範例包含一熱滾 輪及壓力滾輪之組合，及一熱滾輪、壓力滾輪及循環式皮 帶之組合。 φ 該熱-壓力單元中之加熱溫度較佳地是係攝氏80度至 攝氏200度。亦在本發明中，除了該固著步驟及固著單元 以外或取代該固著步驟及固著單元，該技藝中所習知之一 光學固著單元可視該應用而定被使用。 該電荷消除步驟係一種施加放電偏壓至該靜電潛像承 載構件以使其放電之步驟，並可藉由一電荷消除單元所施 行。 該電荷消除單元未特別受限制，並可適當地選自該技 _中所習知之電荷消除單元，倘若其能施加一放電偏壓至 -24- 200537261 (21) 該靜電潛像承載構件，譬如一放電燈。 該淸洗步驟係一種移去殘留在該靜電潛像承載構件上 之電子攝影碳粉的步驟，並可藉著一淸洗單元所施行。 該淸洗單元未特別受限制，並可適當地選自該技藝中 所習知之淸洗單元，倘若其能移去殘留在該靜電潛像承載 構件上之電子攝影碳粉’譬如一磁刷淸潔器、靜電刷淸潔 器、磁性滾輪淸潔器、刃片式淸潔器、刷子淸潔器及紙捲 g 淸潔器被當作範例。 該再循環之步驟係一種再循環由該淸洗步驟至該顯像 步驟所移去之電子攝影碳粉的步驟，並可藉著再循環單元 所施行。 該再循環單元未特別受限制，並可適當地選自該技藝 中所習知之運送單元之中。 該控制步驟係一種控制該各個製程之步驟，並可藉著 一控制單元適當地施行。 φ 該控制單元未特別受限制，並可視該應用而定適當地 選擇，倘若其能控制每一單元之操作，譬如，諸如定序器 或電腦之一裝置。 使用根據本發明之影像形成設備的本發明影像形成方 法之一具體實施例將參考圖1 〇作說明。圖1 〇所示影像形 成設備100包含感光鼓〗1〇(下文簡單地稱爲“光電導 體”），其當作該靜電潛像承載構件；充電滾輪1 20，其 當作該充電單元；光線照射器3 0，其當作該曝光單元；影 像顯像器4 0，其當作該顯像單元；中間影像轉印構件 -25- 200537261 (22) 50 ;淸潔器60，其具有該淸洗單元之作用，並具 刃片；及電荷消除燈7〇，其當作該電荷消除單元 該中間影像轉印構件5 0係一循環式皮帶， 成可橫跨在三個滾輪5 1上方，且於一箭頭所指 中驅動。 該二滾輪51之〜具有偏向滾輪之作用，用 偏壓使影像轉印至該中間影像轉印構件5 0。一用 _ 中間影像轉印構件5 0之淸潔器9 0被配置在該中 印構件50之附近，且包含一淸洗刃片。一當作 元之轉印滾輪8 0面對該中間影像轉印構件5 0， 間影像轉印構件5 0轉印一碳粉影像至一轉印薄J 轉印薄片具有一最後轉印構件之作用。一用於施 該中間影像轉印構件5 0之已顯像影像上之電暈3 被配置環繞著該中間影像轉印構件5 0。於該中間 構件5 0之旋轉方向中，該電暈充電器被設置於 φ 體1 1 〇與該中間影像轉印構件5 0之一接觸區域 影像轉印構件50與該轉印薄片95之另一接觸區ί 該影像顯像器4 0包含一顯像皮帶4 1 ’其當 劑載體；黑色顯像單元45K，其設置環繞著該 4 1 ;黃色顯像單元4 5 Y ;紫紅色顯像單元4 5 M及 像單元45C。該黑色顯像單元45K包含一顯像劑 顯像劑餵入滾輪43K及顯像滾輪44K°該黃色 4 5 Υ包含一顯像劑槽4 2 Υ、顯像劑餵入滾輪4 3 Υ 輪4 4 Υ。該紫紅色顯像單元4 5 Μ包含一顯像劑槽 -有一淸洗 〇 其被設計 示之方向 於施加一 於淸洗該 間影像轉 該轉印單 及由該中 今95，該 加電荷至 色電器58 影像轉印 該光電導 及該中間 或之間。 作一顯像 顯像皮帶 藍綠色顯 槽 42Κ、 顯像單元 及顯像滚 42Μ、顯 -26· 200537261 (23) 像劑餵入滾輪4 3 Μ及顯像滾輪4 4 Μ。該藍綠色顯傷 45C包含一顯像劑槽42C、顯像劑餵入滾輪43C及羅 輪44C。該顯像皮帶41係呈循環式皮帶之形式，且可 地橫跨在複數皮帶滾輪上方，其一部份係與該光電 1 1 0接觸。 譬如於圖1 0所示該影像形成設備1 0 0中，該充 輪1 20對該光電導體1 1 0均一地充電。該光線照射: g 成影像地施加光線至該光電導體1 1 0，以在其上面形 靜電潛像。該影像顯像器40將該顯像劑餵入至該光 體1 1 〇，以藉此使在其上面之靜電潛像顯像，俾能形 可見影像。該可見影像被轉印（初次轉印）至該中間 轉印構件5 0，且接著藉著一施加至該滾輪5 1之電壓 用被轉印（二次轉印）至該轉印薄片95，以藉此在該 薄片95上形成一轉印影像。在該轉印程序之後，該 導體1 1 0上之未轉印顯像劑被藉著該淸潔器60所移 I 隨之遭受另一充電程序藉著該電荷消除燈70消除殘 電荷。 將參考圖1 1說明使用該影像形成設備之影像形 法的另一具體實施例。圖1 1之影像形成設備1 00具 圖1 〇之影像形成設備Π 0相同之架構及相同之優點 了圖11之影像形成設備1〇〇不包含一顯像皮帶41 ’ 黑色顯像單元45K、黃色顯像單元45Y、紫紅色顯像 45M、及藍綠色顯像單元45C圍繞及直接面對一光電 1 1 0以外。圖1 1與圖1 0之相同零組件分別具有相同 PC3 一, 早兀 像滾 旋轉 導體 電滾 蓉30 成一 電導 成一 影像 的作 轉印 光電 去， 留之 成方 有與 ，除 且一 單元 導體 之參 -27-200537261 (1) IX. Description of the invention [Technical field to which the invention belongs] The present invention relates to a method of using a toner bottle for supplying toner to a toner bottle for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as a photocopier or a transfer printer. A toner container containing the toner bottle and a lid, the toner container and the toner container, a device equipped with the toner container, and an image forming method. In the present invention, the term "toner" as used means a broad term and its meaning is extended to a commercially available developer. [Previous technology] In traditional electrophotographic image forming equipment, do you develop images? It is supplied on the spot, and a container containing a developer is horizontally attached to a main body of the image forming apparatus in a manner of attaching 2 and the device is rotated around the axis of the container. In such a device for supplying a developer or a container for supplying-Japanese Patent Laid-Open Application (JP-A) 1 462 6 5 and 9-3 1 1 5 3 5 disclose a device for A gear that rotatably drives the P device, or a bone gear that is concentrically mounted to the developer container. Constructing these containers for supplying a developer so that an orifice of the developer is formed at one end of a cylindrical container having a bottom, and a spiral concave portion is formed along the axis; The container body is rotated around the axis, the toner is guided and transported by the spiral-shaped portion, and the axis maintains the axis at approximately a level, and a paper machine, including an image creator, is used on the A drive that can separate the 60th-column shape of the imaging agent from the supply body to the main body through the ring recessed portion, by 200537261 (2) This toner is supplied to the display through the supply orifice of the image forming apparatus. Like part. In particular, as described in JP-A No. 60-146265, a toner cartridge of a toner supply device is made as shown in FIG. 8, for example; reference numeral 80 in FIG. 8 indicates a carbon Toner cartridge, 8 1 indicates an orifice for supplying a toner, 82 indicates a spiral rib, 83 indicates a ring gear used as a transmission gear for rotating the toner cartridge 80, and 84 indicates a spiral rib 82 0 The spiral concave portion formed to transport the toner. Furthermore, the device for supplying a developer described in JP-A No. 9-3 1 1 5 3 5 was made so that the amount of remaining toner deposited on the inner surface of the toner container can be minimized . As shown in FIG. 9, the ring gear 95 is provided on the side of the outlet 92 of the toner bottle 91 as a transmission gear. The gear 95 meshes with the driving gear 97, and the teeth of the driving gear 97 are intentionally Local elimination; intermittent rotation 91 of the toner bottle may cause vibration to the toner bottle. In FIG. 9, reference numeral 93 indicates the axis of the toner bottle, and 94 refers to a spiral guide protection device for the inner surface. The inner surface forms a spiral concave surface for conveying toner 94 a, 96. A drive motor is indicated, and T is a toner. However, in this prior art, the developer supply containers such as the toner cartridge 80 shown in FIG. 8 and the toner bottle shown in FIG. 9 are each equipped with a transmission gear, the root diameter of which is The outer diameter of the gear is larger than the diameter of the bottle body, and is made so that the transmission gear is concentrically disposed with the bottle body. Therefore, the periphery of the transmission gear extends outward from the outer surface of the bottle body, and thus, the tooth portion is usually damaged during handling of the container, such as packaging and transportation. -6-200537261 (3) Damage. To avoid this problem, the developer supply container should be packaged and shipped with the same specific shock-absorbing material. The conventional developer supply container is typically a molded product of plastic. These molded products are typically produced by a direct blow molding process. Instead, they are mainly produced by injection molding. The main body of the result is then inserted into a specific mold and subjected to biaxial stretch blow molding under certain conditions. However, 'Since the expected shape is that a ring gear is provided on the outer side, a spiral concave surface is formed on a container body, and the mold structure of the injection molding or the biaxial stretch blow molding is very complicated; moreover, Since the ring gear is provided in a thinner part of the bottle body, there are some problems here, that the rib structure is likely to be complicated, and the thickness of the bottle body should be increased. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a toner bottle in which the possibility of damaging the ring gear, particularly the tooth portion of the ring gear during handling, packaging, and transportation is remarkably significant. Pressed; so it can be mainly packaged and transported without shock-absorbing materials; and also provides a method for producing the toner bottle, a toner container containing the toner bottle and lid, and a carbon containing filled toner A toner container of a toner container, an image forming apparatus equipped with the toner container, and an image forming method. Another object of the present invention is to provide a toner bottle, wherein the wall thickness of the bottle body does not need to be thickened, and the rib structure is quite simple for strengthening the bottle body; and also provides a toner bottle for producing the toner. Bottle method, a toner container containing the toner bottle and a lid, a toner container containing a toner container that has been filled with toner, a 7-200537261 (4) container, and an image formation equipped with the toner container Equipment and an image forming method. These objects are achieved by the present invention. According to the present invention, a toner bottle is provided, which includes a cylindrical bottle having a bottom; a cylindrical orifice for supplying toner; and a ring gear, wherein a spiral concave surface runs along the cylindrical bottle. An axis is formed on the side wall of the cylindrical bottle, and the cylindrical orifice is provided at one end of the cylindrical bottle. The cylindrical orifice is concentric with the cylindrical bottle and outside the cylindrical orifice The diameter is smaller than the outer diameter of the cylindrical bottle, the ring gear is disposed on the cylindrical orifice, the ring gear is concentric with the cylindrical orifice, and the diameter of the root circle of the ring gear is smaller than the cylinder Shaped bottle has a smaller outer diameter. In the toner bottle according to the present invention, the teeth of the ring gear do not protrude beyond the outer surface of the cylindrical bottle; therefore, there is little possibility of damaging the teeth due to processing, such as handling, packaging, And shipping. Therefore, the toner bottle of the present invention can be packed and transported substantially without shock-absorbing material. In addition, the toner bottle of the present invention is typically filled with toner and installed with a lid to produce a toner cartridge. When the toner cartridge is mounted to a developing unit of an image forming apparatus, the close contact of the cylindrical opening of the toner bottle with the sealing member of the cover may result in a fully sealed state of the cylindrical opening, which is accompanied by By holding one of the toner cartridges in a fully supported state, the carbon-8-200537261 (5) powder supply mechanism can prevent leakage or leakage of toner. Therefore, the supporting state of the cylindrical orifice can be more stable, and the ring gear provided at the cylindrical orifice can stably maintain the rotation speed. In other words, the ring gear set in the stable position can result in a higher rotational accuracy of the toner bottle. Moreover, the toner bottle can be more surely supported, because the ring gear is at least partially protected by the outer surface of the cylindrical bottle, and the outer diameter of the outer surface of the cylindrical bottle is larger than the tooth root circle of the ring gear diameter of. Preferably, the end surface of the ring gear from the cylindrical opening is provided with a space of 5 mm to 20 mm. Preferably, the difference between the outer diameter of the cylindrical bottle and the diameter of the root circle of the ring gear is 1 mm to 5 mm. Preferably, the toner bottle further includes a connecting and extending portion at one end of the cylindrical bottle, wherein an inner diameter of the cylindrical opening of the connecting and extending portion is greater than an inner diameter of the cylindrical bottle. Smaller, a spiral path for guiding the toner is provided on the connecting and extending portion, and the ring gear is connected to the edge of the connecting and extending portion. These features can result in smooth and fast feeding of the toner and can provide less weight and higher strength to the toner bottle. Preferably, the width of the teeth of the ring gear is 2 mm or more, especially the width of the teeth of the ring gear is 4 mm to 6 mm. These features can result in a relatively local mechanical strength of the ring gear, which allows a more stable meshing of the ring gear with a drive gear 'so that the ring gear has a more accurate speed. For example, when giving some features, plastic gears such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) can provide sufficient mechanical strength. 200537261 (6) Preferably, the ring gear is provided on the cylindrical aperture. The wall thickness of the aperture is thinner than the width of the teeth of the ring gear. The ring gear includes a cylindrical aperture The concentric disk and the ring teeth concentrically connected to the outer edge of the disk, and the wall thickness W3 of the disk and the wall thickness W2 of the cylindrical orifice have the following relationship: W3 = W2 ± 2 mm. More preferably, the wall thickness W3 of the disc and the wall thickness W2 of the cylindrical orifice are 1 mm to 4 mm, respectively. 0 The thickness of the wall surface of the disc and the cylindrical orifice is substantially the same, which prevents the plastic material from ejecting the dents in the molding, which can enhance the dimensional accuracy of the gear teeth. Preferably, an opening for injecting the toner is formed on the bottom of the cylindrical bottle, and a sealing member shaped like a sheet or a plate is adhered to the opening for feeding in the toner, And the sealing member can open and close the orifice for feeding the toner. This feature can provide convenience or simplicity in bottle washing or toner refilling, so that it can easily provide toner bottle recycling and ensure its reuse. Preferably, the toner bottle is a molded plastic product equipped with a ring gear integrally formed with the cylindrical bottle, and the plastic is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate resin and polyethylene resin. , Polypropylene resin, polyvinyl chloride resin, polyamide resin, polystyrene resin, and polycarbonate resin. These features can eliminate the need to manually assemble the ring gear and the cylindrical bottle, and also remove possible disturbances due to manual processing, thereby facilitating the higher size accuracy of the carbon • 10- 200537261 (7) powder bottle. In another aspect of the present invention, a method for producing the above-mentioned toner bottle is provided. The method according to the present invention includes using the ring gear as a support ring to set a hollow cylindrical plastic blank into a mold tool, and having a ring gear for rotating the toner bottle, heating the hollow cylindrical plastic The mold tool of the blank is injected with pressurized gas into the hollow cavity of the hollow cylindrical plastic blank, thereby subjecting the hollow cylindrical plastic blank to biaxial stretching and blow-out molding. Preferably, the hollow cylindrical preform is formed by injection molding. In the production method, the toner bottle can be produced as a one-piece plastic product, and includes a ring gear and a cylindrical bottle. In another aspect of the present invention, a toner container may be provided; the toner container according to the present invention includes a toner bottle selected from those described above and a lid, wherein the lid attached to the toner bottle covers The cylindrical aperture and its adjacent area expose the teeth of the ring gear. Preferably, a toner outlet is provided at one of the cover's * positions', where the cover covers the cylindrical orifice and a shutter is provided for opening and closing the toner outlet. Preferably, the toner container is attached to an image forming apparatus' in an attachable and detachable manner through the cover in a specific position and the shutter is capable of being opened. In another aspect of the present invention, a toner cartridge may be provided; the toner cartridge according to the present invention includes the toner container 'described above and a toner has been poured into the toner -11-200537261 (8) container. In the toner cartridge, leakage or leakage of the toner can be prevented during the use of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, which can provide convenience and / or availability to the operator, for example. In another aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus may be provided; the image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a photoconductor; an electrostatic latent image forming unit having a frame structure capable of forming an electrostatic image on the photoconductor; A developing unit having a frame structure capable of developing the electrostatic latent image through a toner to form a visible image; a transfer unit having a frame structure capable of transferring the visible image on a recording medium; and A fixing unit having a frame structure capable of fixing a transfer image on the recording medium, wherein the toner cartridge is attached to the image forming apparatus through the cover in an attachable and detachable manner, and the toner is The cartridge supplies the toner. In the image forming apparatus, the improved accuracy for rotating the toner bottle may result in more stable feeding of the toner into the developer. Furthermore, the enhanced mechanical strength of the gear used to rotate the toner bottle avoids the disadvantage that the toner cartridge should be discarded before all the toner that is initially full is exhausted due to accidental damage to the gear. . In another aspect of the present invention, an image forming method may be provided. The image forming method includes forming an electrostatic latent image on a photoconductor surface, and developing the electrostatic latent image by toner to form a visible image. "Transfer the visible image on a recording medium" and fix the image transferred on the recording medium, in which the image forming equipment is used ", and the carbon according to item 7 of the application patent scope No. 1 7-12-200537261 (9) The toner cartridge is attached to the image forming apparatus in an attachable and detachable manner through the cover, and the toner is supplied from the toner cartridge. In the image forming method, the improved accuracy for rotating the toner bottle may result in more stable feeding of the toner into the developer. Furthermore, the enhanced mechanical strength of the gear used to rotate the toner bottle avoids the disadvantage that the toner cartridge should be discarded before all the toner that is initially full is exhausted due to accidental damage to the gear. . [Embodiment] The present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. < First mode > Fig. 1 is a partial cross-sectional front view showing the entire structure of a toner bottle 10 of a molded product with the lid removed. A toner container φ is made by attaching a cap (not shown) to the cylindrical opening 15 of the toner bottle 10. On the side wall of the cylindrical bottle 11 of the toner bottle 10, a spiral concave surface 12 and a reinforced spiral rib 1 3a are formed along the axis 14 and a linear rib 1 3b is aligned with the axis Hearts 14 are formed in parallel. The cylindrical bottle 1 1 has a bottom. A cylindrical orifice 15 for supplying toner is provided at an axial end of a cylindrical bottle 1 1, and the cylindrical orifice 5 is concentric with the cylindrical bottle 1. The cylindrical orifice 15 has a certain length and functions as an inlet for supplying the toner into a developing portion (not shown) of an image forming apparatus, and the end of the cylindrical orifice 15 corresponds to Toner supply inlet 5 a -13- 200537261 (10) Cylindrical bottle 11 1 Concentric ring wheel 8 or a flange-like wheel is received by the cylindrical hole 15. In addition, a concentric connection and extension portion 6 with the cylindrical bottle 11 and a shoulder 17 are provided between the leading edge of the cylindrical bottle 11 and the cylindrical orifice 15. The toner bottle has a structural feature 'where the diameter of the root circle of the ring gear 18 is smaller than the outer diameter of the cylindrical bottle 11 forming the spiral concave surface 12, and the ring gear has the toner container rotating as a transmission The role of gears is arranged concentrically with the cylindrical orifice 14; the ring gear 18 is provided on the 0 cylindrical orifice 15; the width of the tooth portion of the ring gear is 2 mm or more And the connecting and extending portion 16 is provided to have a specific structure. The connecting and extending portion 16 opposite to the bottom 21 and connected to the leading edge of the cylindrical bottle 11 is a route for guiding the toner. The connecting and extending portion 16 is tapered from the side of the cylindrical bottle Π to the side of the cylindrical orifice 15. The ring gear 18 can be positioned at any position of the cylindrical orifice 15; Fig. 1 shows a pattern in which the ring gear 18 is located on the edge connected to the connecting and extending portion I6. In FIG. 1, reference numerals 19 and 20 are members for engaging and installing a lid (not shown) to a cylindrical opening 15 of a cylindrical bottle 11; reference numeral 19 is a bottom end of a ring, so that The lid is attached in a sealed manner; reference numeral 20 is a ring ferrule for preventing the lid from detaching. A cover tool with a shutter results in easy packaging and shipping without the need for shock-absorbing materials as described earlier. The cylindrical bottle 11 of this structure can be blown out by biaxial stretching, -14-200537261 (11) as described later. A toner container (not shown) formed by a cylindrical bottle Π and the lid (not shown) can be attached and detached in a developing part of an image forming apparatus, and is approximately In the horizontal direction, there is an axis 1 4. Then, by rotating the driving gear to rotate the toner container around the shaft center 14 and engaging the ring gear 18 and the driving gear, the cylindrical bottle 11 can be guided and transported by the spiral concave surface 12 Toner, thereby supplying the toner to the developing portion through the cylindrical orifice 15. In the structure of the toner bottle and the toner container, the teeth of the ring gear will not protrude beyond the outer surface of the cylindrical bottle; therefore, there are damages caused by processing such as handling, packaging, and transportation. Minimal possibility of teeth. Preferably, for example, the toner bottle shown in FIG. 1 is provided at the bottom 21 of the toner body with a toner feeding hole □ (not shown), and a sheet-like or plate-like sealing member, which can be An attachable and detachable way to open and close the toner feed port and ensure recycling of the toner bottle. Preferably, for example, the toner bottle 10 shown in FIG. 1 and the lid (not shown) can be attached to the resulting toner container; wherein when the lid is attached to the toner bottle, the lid The cylindrical aperture 15 and its adjacent area are covered, and the teeth of the ring gear 18 are exposed. In addition, it is preferable that a shutter is provided at a position of the cover, where the cover covers the cylindrical aperture, so that when the toner container is installed in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus in a specific position The shutter is opened at all times. Furthermore, charging toner into the toner container according to the present invention can provide a -15- 200537261 (12) the toner cartridge according to the present invention; then the toner cartridge can be attached to the electronic device by applying a cover. Photographic image forming equipment. < Second mode > Fig. 2 shows a front view of a cylindrical opening of a toner bottle and its adjacent area, which is formed by engaging a plastic ring gear to a plastic cylindrical bottle. FIG. 3A shows a front view of a representative structure of a cylindrical bottle before engaging a ring gear; FIG. 3B is the side view. Fig. 4A is a front view showing the structure of the ring gear; Fig. 4B is a sectional view. The toner bottle 30 shown in FIG. 2 is made by engaging a plastic ring gear 41 with an unbroken ring to a plastic cylindrical bottle 31 shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. The basic structure of the toner bottle It is basically the same as that shown in FIG. 1. Specifically, a cylindrical orifice 32 for supplying toner is provided at a front portion of one of the cylindrical bottles 31 shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B; a flange 33 is provided to the cylindrical orifice and the cylindrical bottle. Between 31; and a pair of protruding portions 34 facing each other φ are formed on the outer surface of the flange 33. Further, a ring ferrule 35 is formed on the cylindrical orifice 32; a ring projection 36 for preventing the gear from detaching is formed at the leading edge of the flange 33. The ring ferrule 3 5 corresponds to the ring ferrule 20 and is used to prevent the cap shown in Figure 1 from detaching; the ring protruding part 36 is also implemented as a ring butt joint to attach the cap in a sealed state ( Not shown). On the other hand, a concave surface 42 corresponding to the convex surface 34 is formed on the ring gear 41, as shown in Figs. 4A and 4B. As for the dimensions of each part, for example, the inner diameter D 1 of the ring gear 41 is 3 4.2 mm; the outer diameter D 2 of the ring protrusion 36 is 34 mm; the outer diameter D 3 of the flange 33 -16-200537261 (13) is The national width W1 of the ring gear 4] is 5.5 mm; and the width W2 of the flange 33 is 6 mm. When the toner bottle 30 shown in FIG. 2 is made, the ring gear 41 is inserted into the toner bottle 30 on the side of the feeding hole 32, and then passes through the ring ferrule 3 5 and the ring protruding portion 36, And is inserted and inserted into the flange 3 3. In this structure, the concave surface 42 is fitted into the protruding portion 34. $ < Third mode> Fig. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the basic structure of a toner bottle. The toner bottle 50, which is a plastic molded product, has substantially the same structure as that shown in FIG. 1, wherein the ring gear 51 is formed integrally with the cylindrical bottle 52. The toner bottle 50 has various features, that is, the wall thickness W3 of the cylindrical opening 53 is thinner than the tooth width W1 (for example, W1: 5.5 mm, W3: 2 mm) of the ring gear tooth portion 5 1 b. Among them, the ring gear 51 is set to be concentric with the cylindrical φ aperture 5 3. The ring gear 51 is formed by a disc 5 1 a concentric with the cylindrical aperture 5 3 and the outer edge of the disc 5 1 a. The ring teeth 5 1 b connected to the center are formed, and the thickness W3 of the wall surface of the disk 51 a is substantially the same as the thickness W2 of the cylindrical hole 53. (Method for producing toner bottle) The method for producing a toner bottle of the present invention can produce the toner bottle according to the present invention. The method of the present invention includes, as required, preform setting, blow molding, and another process. -17- 200537261 (14) In the preform setting, a hollow cylindrical preform provided with a ring gear for rotating the toner bottle is used as a support ring and the ring gear is set in a mold tool, wherein The ring gear is set concentrically with a cylindrical orifice for supporting toner. Preferably, the preform is produced by ~ injection molding. In the blow molding, the preform is heated, and then pressurized gas is injected into the hollow cavity of the preform, and the preform is subjected to biaxial stretching and blow-out molding. The conditions in the biaxial stretching and blow-out molding, such as the pressure of the pressurized gas and the temperature of the heated mold tool, may be appropriately selected depending on the molding material, the expected shape, and the like; for example, polyethylene terephthalate In the case of formate (PET) resin, the pressure of the pressurized gas may be 0.5 to 10 million bar, and the temperature of the heated preform may be 90 to 120 degrees Celsius. A toner bottle 50 having an integrated ring gear as shown in FIG. 5 can be produced by injection molding a preform or parison 60 as shown in FIG. 6, for example, setting I. The preform or parison 60 enters a The mold tool of the structure, and suffered a biaxial stretching and blowout forming. The preform or parison 60 can be produced from PET resin or a mixture of PET and polyethylene resin. In particular, the hollow cylindrical preform 60 is produced by an injection molding method and has a shape that a ring gear 61 for rotating the toner bottle is concentrically provided with a cylindrical shape for supplying a toner. The orifice 62, then the preform 60 is set in the molding tool 70 by using the ring gear 61 as a support ring; and the molding tool 70 is heated, and pressurized gas is blown into the preform 70 The hollow cavity can be stretched and blown out to obtain -18-200537261 (15) to obtain an expected toner bottle. In Fig. 7, reference numeral 72 is an extension pin, and 73 is a loading pin. (Toner Container and Toner Cartridge) The toner container of the present invention includes the toner bottle of the present invention, a lid, a shutter, and other parts as required. When the lid is attached to the toner bottle, the lid covers the cylindrical orifice 15 and its adjacent area. The material of the cover is appropriately selected depending on the application; for example, materials such as polystyrene resin, polyvinyl chloride resin, polyethylene resin, polyethylene terephthalate resin, polypropylene resin, and polyoxymethylene can be used. Thermoplastic materials of resin, ABS resin, and polycarbonate resin. Preferably, a toner outlet and a shutter for opening and closing the toner outlet are provided at a position of the cover, in which the cover covers the cylindrical opening, so that the shutter opens or closes the shutter. Toner export. Further, it is preferable that the cover is attachable and detachable, the toner container is φ mounted to the image forming apparatus, and the shutter can be opened in a specific manner. Filling the toner into the toner container according to the present invention provides the toner container according to the present invention. The toner may be appropriately selected from commercially available toners. (Image forming apparatus and image forming method) The image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes an electrostatic latent image bearing member, an electrostatic latent image forming unit, a developing unit, a transfer unit, and a fixing unit, and may further include an internal cover if necessary. One attachment-separation mechanism-19- 200537261 (16) and other units, such as charge elimination unit, decontamination unit, recycling unit and control unit. The image forming method according to the present invention includes an electrostatic latent image forming step, a developing step, a transferring step, and a fixing step, and may further include other steps if necessary, such as a charge eliminating step, a washing step, and a recycling step. And control steps. The toner cartridge according to the present invention is attachable and detachable to the image forming apparatus, and is made so that a toner is supplied into the developing unit by rotating the toner cartridge. The image forming method according to the present invention can be appropriately applied to the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. The electrostatic latent image forming step may be performed by the electrostatic latent image forming unit, the developing step may be performed by the developing unit, the transferring step may be performed by the transferring unit, and the fixing step may be performed by Performed by this fixing unit. Other units may perform other steps. -Electrostatic latent image forming step and electrostatic latent image forming unit-φ The electrostatic latent image forming step is a step of forming an electrostatic latent image on the electrostatic latent image bearing member. The electrostatic latent image bearing member (hereinafter referred to as "photoconductor") is not particularly limited to the material, shape, structure, or size, and may be appropriately selected from those skilled in the art. For example, its shape can be drum-shaped, and its material can be an inorganic; 7½-conducting cowpea material, such as non-crystalline sand or sun; or an organic photoconductor, such as polysilane or titanium cyanine. Among these materials, non-crystalline silicon is preferred from the viewpoint of longevity. The electrostatic latent image can be formed, for example, by uniformly charging the surface of the electrostatic latent image bearing structure -20-200537261 (17), and irradiating the surface into an image, and can be performed by the electrostatic latent image forming unit. . The electrostatic latent image forming unit includes, for example, a charger that uniformly charges the surface of the electrostatic latent image bearing member; and a light irradiator that exposes the surface of the latent image carrier in an image. The charging can be performed, for example, by using the charger to apply a voltage to the surface of the electrostatic latent image bearing member. I The charger is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the application, such as contact chargers known in the art, such as a conductive or semi-conductive roller, brush, film or rubber blade, and the use of corona discharge Non-contact chargers such as corona tubes and scortrons are taken as examples. As for the charging member, its shape is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, a magnetic brush or a fur brush separated by a roller. It may be appropriately selected according to the specifications or architecture of an image forming apparatus. When a magnetic brush is used as the charger, the magnetic brush includes an electrostatic charger formed of various ferrite particles, such as zinc-copper ferrite, and a non-magnetic conductive sleeve supporting the electrostatic charger. A barrel 'and a magnetic roller contained in the non-magnetic conductive sleeve. When a brush is used as a charger, the material of the brush is, for example, a fur, which becomes conductive by treatment with, for example, carbon, copper sulfide, metal or metal oxide, and the fur is coiled or Mount to a metal or another core rod that becomes conductive by processing. The light irradiation can be performed by irradiating the surface of the electrostatic latent image bearing member into an image, for example, using the light irradiator. -21-200537261 (18) The light irradiator is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the application provided, 'it can expose the surface of the electrostatic latent image bearing member, such as by the charging A light illuminator such as one of a copy optical system, a rod lens array system, a laser optical system, and a liquid crystal shutter optical system can be used as an example. In addition, in the present invention, a rear light system may be adopted in which the electrostatic latent image bearing member is imagewise exposed from a rear surface thereof. (Developing method and developing unit) The developing step is a step of developing an electrostatic latent image using the toner supplied from the toner cartridge according to the present invention to form a visible image. The visible image can be formed, for example, by using the toner or a developer to develop the electrostatic latent image, and can be executed by the developing unit. The developing unit is not particularly limited as long as it can develop an image, for example, by using the toner or developer, and can be appropriately selected from φ known to those skilled in the art. Examples are those that include an image developer housing the toner, and that can supply the toner with or without contact with the electrostatic latent image. In the image developer, the toner and the carrier may be mixed and stirred together, for example. The toner is thereby charged by friction, and a magnetic brush is formed on the surface of the rotating magnet roller. Since the magnet roller system is arranged close to the photoconductor, a part of the toner formed by the magnetic brush on the surface of the magnet roller moves to the surface of the photoconductor due to electric attraction. As a result, the electrostatic latent image is developed by the toner, and a visible toner image is formed on the surface of the photoconductor. • 22- 200537261 (19)-Transfer step and transfer unit 1 The transfer step is a step of transferring the visible image to a recording medium. In a preferred mode, the first transfer step is performed, wherein an intermediate image transfer member is used, the visible image is transferred to the intermediate image transfer member, and then the second transfer step is performed, wherein The visible image is transferred to a recording medium. In a better mode, using two or more color toners and preferably full-color toners, the main transfer step transfers the visible image to the intermediate image transfer member to form a Composite transfer image 'and the second transfer steps transfer the composite transfer image to the recording medium. The transfer can be achieved, for example, by charging the photoconductor using a transfer charger, and can be performed by the transfer unit. In a preferred mode, the transfer unit includes a first transfer unit that transfers the visible image to the intermediate image transfer member to form a composite transfer image; and a second φ transfer unit that The composite transfer image is transferred to the recording medium. The intermediate image transfer member is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected from transfer bodies known in the art, such as a transfer belt, for example. The transfer unit of the first transfer unit and the second transfer unit preferably includes an image transfer device which releases a visible image formed on the electrostatic latent image bearing member or the photoconductor to the record Media side. There may be one, two or more such transfer units. The image transfer device may be a corona transfer unit, which is released by corona-23- 200537261 (20) electricity, a transfer belt, a transfer roller, a pressure transfer roller or an adhesive transfer unit effect. The recording medium is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected from recording media or recording papers known in the art. The recording medium is typically plain paper, but is not particularly limited 'and may be selected depending on the application, and includes, for example, a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) salt for an overhead projector (0 HP). base. φ The fixing step is a step of fixing a visible image transferred to the recording medium using a fixing device. This can be done for each developer of each color transferred to the recording medium, or in an operation when the developer of each color has been laminated. The fixing device is not particularly limited, and may be appropriately selected from heat and pressure units known in the art. Examples of the heat and pressure unit include a combination of a hot roller and a pressure roller, and a combination of a hot roller, a pressure roller, and an endless belt. φ The heating temperature in the heat-pressure unit is preferably 80 ° C to 200 ° C. Also in the present invention, in addition to or in place of the fixing step and the fixing unit, one of the conventionally known optical fixing units is used depending on the application. The charge elimination step is a step of applying a discharge bias to the electrostatic latent image bearing member to discharge it, and may be performed by a charge elimination unit. The charge elimination unit is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected from the charge elimination units known in the art, provided that it can apply a discharge bias voltage to -24-200537261 (21) The electrostatic latent image bearing member, such as A discharge lamp. The cleaning step is a step of removing the electrophotographic toner remaining on the electrostatic latent image bearing member, and may be performed by a cleaning unit. The cleaning unit is not particularly limited, and may be appropriately selected from the cleaning units known in the art, provided that it can remove the electrophotographic toner remaining on the electrostatic latent image bearing member, such as a magnetic brush. Cleaners, electrostatic brush cleaners, magnetic roller cleaners, blade cleaners, brush cleaners, and paper roll cleaners are used as examples. The recycling step is a step of recycling the electrophotographic toner removed from the washing step to the developing step, and can be performed by a recycling unit. The recycling unit is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected from among the transportation units known in the art. The control step is a step for controlling the respective processes, and can be appropriately performed by a control unit. φ The control unit is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the application, provided that it can control the operation of each unit, such as a device such as a sequencer or a computer. A specific embodiment of the image forming method of the present invention using the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The image forming apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 10 includes a photosensitive drum 10 (hereinafter simply referred to as a “photoconductor”) as the electrostatic latent image bearing member; a charging roller 1 20 as the charging unit; light The irradiator 30 is used as the exposure unit; the image developer 40 is used as the development unit; the intermediate image transfer member-25-200537261 (22) 50; the cleaner 60 is provided with the The role of the washing unit, and has a blade; and a charge elimination lamp 70, which serves as the charge elimination unit and the intermediate image transfer member 50 is a recirculating belt, so that it can span over three rollers 51, And driven in the direction of an arrow. The two rollers 51 have the function of deflecting the rollers, and the image is transferred to the intermediate image transfer member 50 with a bias voltage. A cleaning device 90 of the intermediate image transfer member 50 is disposed near the printing member 50, and includes a cleaning blade. A transfer roller 80 as a unit faces the intermediate image transfer member 50, and the intermediate image transfer member 50 transfers a toner image to a transfer sheet J. The transfer sheet has a final transfer member effect. A corona 3 on the developed image for applying the intermediate image transfer member 50 is arranged to surround the intermediate image transfer member 50. In the rotation direction of the intermediate member 50, the corona charger is disposed at a portion of the φ body 1 10 that is in contact with one of the intermediate image transfer members 50 and the other of the image transfer member 50 and the transfer sheet 95 A contact area ί The image developer 40 includes a developing belt 4 1 ′ as a carrier; a black developing unit 45K, which is arranged around the 4 1; a yellow developing unit 4 5 Y; a fuchsia developing Unit 4 5 M and image unit 45C. The black developing unit 45K includes a developer feeding roller 43K and a developing roller 44K. The yellow 4 5 Υ includes a developer tank 4 2 Υ, a developer feeding roller 4 3 Υ wheel 4 4 Υ. The fuchsia developing unit 4 5 Μ includes a developer tank-there is a washing, and it is designed to show the direction of applying an image in the washing to the transfer sheet and the charge from the current 95 The image to the color electric device 58 is transferred between the photoconductor and the middle or between. A developing belt was developed. The blue-green developing groove 42K, the developing unit and the developing roller 42M, and the developing 26 · 200537261 (23) The developer feeding roller 4 3M and the developing roller 4 4M. The blue-green imaging flaw 45C includes a developer tank 42C, a developer feeding roller 43C, and a roller 44C. The developing belt 41 is in the form of an endless belt and can be straddled over a plurality of belt rollers, a part of which is in contact with the photovoltaic 1 10. For example, in the image forming apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 10, the charging wheel 120 charges the photoconductor 110 uniformly. The light is irradiated: g is applied to the photoconductor 1 10 in an image to form an electrostatic latent image on it. The image developer 40 feeds the developer to the light body 110 to thereby develop an electrostatic latent image thereon so that the image can be seen. The visible image is transferred (primary transfer) to the intermediate transfer member 50, and then is transferred (secondary transfer) to the transfer sheet 95 by a voltage applied to the roller 51, Thereby, a transfer image is formed on the sheet 95. After the transfer process, the untransferred developer on the conductor 110 is moved by the cleaner 60 and then subjected to another charging process to remove the residual charge by the charge eliminating lamp 70. A specific embodiment of an image method using the image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. The image forming apparatus 100 in FIG. 11 has the same structure and the same advantages as the image forming apparatus 100 in FIG. 10, and the image forming apparatus 100 in FIG. 11 does not include a developing belt 41 ′, a black developing unit 45K, The yellow developing unit 45Y, the magenta developing unit 45M, and the blue-green developing unit 45C surround and directly face a photoelectric 1 10. The same components in Fig. 11 and Fig. 10 have the same PC3, respectively. Early, like a rolling conductor, electric roller 30, a conductor and an image, it is used to transfer the photoelectricity. Nozomi-27-
200537261 (24) 考數字。 Η 1 2所不#像形成設備1 〇 〇係一縱列式彩 成設備，其包含一影印機主體1 5 〇、送紙器平台 描器300及自動文件送紙器（ADF) 400。 該影印機主體1 5 0在其中心部份包含一循環 間影像轉印構件5 0。該中間影像轉印構件5 〇係 個支撐滾輪114、115及116上方，且能夠在圖1 順時針方向中旋轉及移動。一中間影像轉印構4 1 1 7被配置在該第二支撐滾輪1 1 5之附近。在影. 後’該中間影像轉印構件淸潔器1 1 7能夠由該中 印構件50移去一殘留之碳粉。在橫跨於該第一： 撐滾輪1 1 4及1 1 5間之中間影像轉印構件5 〇上 色、藍綠色、紫紅色及黑色影像形成裝置1 1 8係识 影像轉印構件5 0之移動方向中平行地排列，以藉 一縱列式影像形成單元2 2 0。一光線照射器1 2 1被 該縱列式影像形成單元2 2 0之附近。第二影像轉E| 面朝該縱列式影像顯像器220，並在其間插入有診 像轉印構件50。該第二影像轉印器122包含一很 帶，其具有橫跨在二滾輪123上方之第二轉印皮帶 作用。該第二轉印皮帶1 24上所運送之轉印薄片裔 該中間影像轉印構件5 0接觸。一影像固著器1 2 5 在該第二影像轉印器1 22之側面上。該影像固著器 含一循環式影像固著皮帶1 2 6及一壓在該影像匡 1 2 6上之壓力滾輪1 2 7。 4影像形 2 0 0、掃 ζ皮帶中 I跨在三 :中之一 淸潔器 ^轉印之 3影像轉 :第二支 :方，黃 ^該中間 〖此構成 Ε配置在 ]器 122 :中間影 i環式皮 124的 $能夠與 被配置 125包 著皮帶 -28- 200537261 (25) 該縱列式影像形成設備另於該第二影像轉印器1 2 2及 該影像固著器125附近包含一薄片翻轉器28。該薄片翻轉 器2 8能夠翻轉該轉印薄片，以致可在轉印薄片之兩面上 形成影像。 一全彩影像（彩色複製品）係藉著以下之方式使用該 縱列式影像形成設備220所形成。最初，一文件被放置在 該自動文件送紙器（ADF) 400之一文件壓盤130上。或 g 者，該自動文件送紙器400被打開，該文件被放置在該掃 描器3 00之一接觸玻璃32上，並關上該自動文件送紙器 400以下壓該文件。 當壓下一開始開關（未示出）時，放置在該自動文件 送紙器400上之文件被運送至該接觸玻璃32上。當該文 件係最初放置在該接觸玻璃32上時，該掃描器3 00馬上 被驅動以運轉第一滑架3 3及第二滑架3 4。光線係藉著該 第一滑架33之作用由一光源施加至該文件，且來自該文 φ 件之反射光被進一步反射朝向該第二滑架34。該反射光係 藉著該第二滑架3 4之鏡子所進一步反射及通過一影像形 成透鏡3 5進入一讀取感測器3 6，以藉此讀取該彩色文件 (彩色影像）及生產黑色、黃色、紫紅色及藍綠色影像資 訊。 每一黑色、黃色、紫紅色及藍綠色影像資訊被傳送至 該縱列式影像形成設備220中之每一影像形成裝置1 1 8 (黑色、黃色、紫紅色及藍綠色影像形成裝置）’以藉此 在其中形成黑色、黃色、紫紅色及藍綠色碳粉影像。.特別 - 29- 200537261 (26) 地是’該縱列式影像形成設備2 2 0中之每一影像形成裝置 1 1 8 (黑色、黃色、紫紅色及藍綠色影像形成裝置）具有 一光電導體110 (黑色光電導體110K、黃色光電導體 110Y、紫紅色光電導體 110M、或藍綠色光電導體 1 1 0C )、一靜電充電器60、一光線照射器、一影像顯像器 61、一轉印充電器62、一光電導體淸潔器63、及一電荷 消除器64，並能基於該彩色影像資訊形成一單色影像（黑 色、黃色、紫紅色或藍綠色影像）。該充電器60具有均 ® 勻地充電該光電導體之作用。該光線照射器基於每一彩色 影像資訊彩色成像地施加光線至該光電導體，以藉此形成 一對應於該彩色影像之靜電潛像。該影像顯像器6 1以一 彩色顯像劑（黑色、黃色、紫紅色或藍綠色顯像劑）使該 靜電潛像顯像，以藉此形成一可見影像。該轉印充電器62 將該可見影像轉印至該中間影像轉印構件5 0。該黑色光電 導體11 0K上所形成之黑色影像、該黃色光電導體11 0Y上 I 所形成之黃色影像、該紫紅色光電導體1 1 0M上所形成之 紫紅色影像、及該藍綠色光電導體HOC上所形成之藍綠 色影像被連續地轉印（初次轉印）及疊置在該中間影像轉 印構件50上，並藉著該支撐滾輪Π4、115及116轉動及 位移該中間影像轉印構件。如此’形成一合成之彩色影像 (轉印之彩色影像）。 該送紙器平台200之一送紙器滾輪142係選擇性地轉 動，薄片由一貯紙器M3中之多數送紙器卡匣M4之一所 排出，且藉著分離滾輪1 4 5逐一分開進入一送紙器路徑 -30- 200537261 (27) 146，藉者一運送滾輪147被逐一運送進入該送紙器滾輪 1 5 0中之一送紙器路徑1 4 8及撞上一保護滾輪。或者，〜 送紙器滾輪1 5 0係轉動至在一手動旁路托盤5 1上排出薄 片該寺薄片被藉者一分離滾輪52逐一分開進入一手動旁 路送紙器路徑53及撞上該保護滾輪49。該保護滾輪49大 致上接地，但能在一偏壓之應用下被使用，以移去該等薄 片之紙灰塵。 0 於根據本發明之影像形成設備及根據本發明之影像形 成方法中，由於碳粉瓶之改善轉動準確性，根據本發明所 個別採用之碳粉匣能確保碳粉之穩定供給進入每一顯像部 份。此外，既然用於轉動該碳粉瓶之齒輪的機械強度可增 加，在最初充塡之所有碳粉被耗盡之前，由於齒輪之意外 損壞而應替換碳粉匣之缺點可被避免。如此，可較長時期 形成具有高品質之影像。 φ 【圖式簡單說明】 圖1係一局部之橫截面正視圖，其示範地顯示根據本 發明第一模式之一碳粉瓶於該蓋子被移去之狀態中的整個 結構。 圖2係一正視圖，其示範地顯示根據本發明第二模式 之一碳粉瓶的代表性結構。 圖3 A係一正視圖，其示範地顯示根據本發明第二模 式之一圓柱形瓶子的代表性結構。 圖3B係圖3A所示圓柱形瓶子之代表性結構的一側視 -31 - 200537261 (28) 圖。 圖4 A係一正視圖，其示範地顯示根據本發明第二模 式之一碳粉瓶的環齒輪結構。 圖4 B係一側視圖，其示範地顯示圖4 A所示碳粉瓶之 環齒輪結構。 圖5係一橫截面視圖，其示範地顯示根據本發明第三 模式之一碳粉瓶的代表性結構。 圖6係一槪要透視圖，其示範地顯示一用於藉著雙軸 伸展及吹出成形生產根據本發明之碳粉瓶的塑坯形狀。 圖7顯示圖6所示塑坯遭受雙軸伸展及吹出成形以製 備一碳粉瓶之一方式。 圖8係一槪要透視圖，其示範地顯示一在該先前技藝 中用於供給顯像劑之容器。 圖9係一槪要透視圖，其示範地顯示在該先前技藝中 用於供給顯像劑之另一容器。 圖1 0係一槪要示範視圖，其藉著本發明之影像形成 設備顯示本發明之影像形成方法。 圖1 1係另一槪要示範視圖，其藉著本發明之影像形 成設備顯示本發明之影像形成方法。 圖1 2係一槪要示範視圖，其藉著縱列型彩色設備之 本發明影像形成設備顯示本發明之影像形成方法。 【主要元件符號說明】 a 碳粉供給入口 -32- 200537261 (29) 10 碳粉瓶 11 圓柱形瓶子 12 螺旋狀凹面 13a 螺旋狀肋條 13b 線性肋條 14 軸心 15 圓柱形孔口 16 連接及延伸部份 17 肩部 18 環齒輪 19 環底端 20 環套圈 2 1 底部 28 翻轉器 30 碳粉瓶200537261 (24) Examination figures. The image forming equipment 1 2 is a tandem color processing equipment, which includes a photocopier main body 150, a feeder platform scanner 300, and an automatic document feeder (ADF) 400. The photocopier main body 150 includes a cycle image transfer member 50 at a central portion thereof. The intermediate image transfer member 50 is above the supporting rollers 114, 115, and 116, and can rotate and move in a clockwise direction in FIG. An intermediate image transfer structure 4 1 1 7 is disposed near the second support roller 1 1 5. In the back image, the intermediate image transfer member cleaner 1 1 7 can remove a residual toner from the print member 50. Intermediate image transfer member 5 across the first: support rollers 1 1 4 and 1 1 5 Color, cyan, magenta, and black image forming device 1 1 8 recognizes image transfer member 5 0 The moving directions are arranged in parallel to borrow a tandem image forming unit 2 2 0. A light irradiator 1 2 1 is located near the tandem image forming unit 2 2 0. The second image transfer E | faces the tandem image developer 220 with a diagnosis transfer member 50 interposed therebetween. The second image transfer device 122 includes a belt which functions as a second transfer belt which is stretched over the two rollers 123. The transfer sheet conveyed on the second transfer belt 124 is in contact with the intermediate image transfer member 50. An image holder 1 2 5 is on the side of the second image transfer device 1 22. The image fixing device comprises a circulating image fixing belt 1 2 6 and a pressure roller 1 2 7 pressed on the image fixing belt 1 2 6. 4 image shape 2 0 0, I across the ζ belt in one of the three: one of the cleaner ^ transfer of the three image transfer: the second branch: square, yellow ^ the middle [this constitutes Ε is configured in] device 122: The intermediate film i-ring leather 124 can be equipped with a 125 wrap belt-28- 200537261 (25) The tandem image forming equipment is additionally to the second image transfer device 1 2 2 and the image fixing device 125 A sheet flipper 28 is included nearby. The sheet inverter 28 is capable of inverting the transfer sheet so that images can be formed on both sides of the transfer sheet. A full-color image (color reproduction) is formed by using the tandem image forming apparatus 220 in the following manner. Initially, a document is placed on a document platen 130 of the automatic document feeder (ADF) 400. Or, the automatic document feeder 400 is opened, the document is placed on the contact glass 32 of one of the scanners 300, and the automatic document feeder 400 is closed to press the document. When the start switch (not shown) is depressed, the document placed on the automatic document feeder 400 is transported to the contact glass 32. When the document is initially placed on the contact glass 32, the scanner 300 is immediately driven to operate the first carriage 33 and the second carriage 34. The light is applied to the document by a light source by the function of the first carriage 33, and the reflected light from the φ member is further reflected toward the second carriage 34. The reflected light is further reflected by the mirror of the second carriage 34 and enters a reading sensor 36 through an image forming lens 35 to read the color document (color image) and produce Black, yellow, fuchsia and cyan image information. Each black, yellow, magenta and blue-green image information is transmitted to each image forming device 1 1 8 (black, yellow, magenta and blue-green image forming device) in the tandem image forming device 220. This creates black, yellow, magenta, and cyan toner images in it. Special-29- 200537261 (26) The ground is' Each image forming device 1 1 8 (black, yellow, magenta and cyan image forming device) in the tandem image forming device 2 2 0 has a photoconductor 110 (black photoconductor 110K, yellow photoconductor 110Y, magenta photoconductor 110M, or blue-green photoconductor 1 110C), an electrostatic charger 60, a light irradiator, an image display device 61, a transfer charging The device 62, a photoconductor cleaner 63, and a charge canceller 64 can form a monochrome image (black, yellow, magenta, or blue-green image) based on the color image information. The charger 60 has a function of uniformly charging the photoconductor. The light irradiator applies light to the photoconductor in color based on each color image information, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the color image. The image developer 61 develops the electrostatic latent image with a color developer (black, yellow, magenta or cyan developer) to form a visible image. The transfer charger 62 transfers the visible image to the intermediate image transfer member 50. A black image formed on the black photoconductor 110K, a yellow image formed on the yellow photoconductor 110Y, a magenta image formed on the magenta photoconductor 110M, and the cyan photoconductor HOC The blue-green image formed thereon is continuously transferred (primary transfer) and stacked on the intermediate image transfer member 50, and the intermediate image transfer member is rotated and displaced by the support rollers Π4, 115, and 116 . In this way, a composite color image (transferred color image) is formed. One of the feeder rollers 142 of the feeder platform 200 is selectively rotated, and the sheet is discharged from one of the plurality of feeder cassettes M4 in a stocker M3, and is separated into one by one by the separation roller 1 4 5 Path-30-200537261 (27) 146, a borrower 147 is transported one by one into one of the feeder rollers 150, and one of the feeder paths 1 48 and hits a protection roller. Or, ~ The feeder roller 1 50 is rotated to discharge a sheet on a manual bypass tray 51. The temple sheet is separated into a manual bypass feeder path 53 by the borrower by a separation roller 52 and hits the protection roller. 49. The protective roller 49 is substantially grounded, but can be used under a biased application to remove these thin pieces of paper dust. 0 In the image forming apparatus and the image forming method according to the present invention, due to the improved rotation accuracy of the toner bottle, the toner cartridge individually used according to the present invention can ensure a stable supply of toner into each display. Like part. In addition, since the mechanical strength of the gear used to rotate the toner bottle can be increased, the disadvantage of having to replace the toner cartridge due to accidental damage to the gear can be avoided before all the toner that is initially charged is exhausted. In this way, high-quality images can be formed over a long period of time. φ [Brief description of the drawings] FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional front view, which exemplarily shows the entire structure of a toner bottle according to a first mode of the present invention in a state where the cap is removed. FIG. 2 is a front view exemplarily showing a representative structure of a toner bottle according to a second mode of the present invention. Fig. 3 A is a front view exemplarily showing a representative structure of a cylindrical bottle according to a second mode of the present invention. Fig. 3B is a side view of a representative structure of the cylindrical bottle shown in Fig. 3A -31-200537261 (28). Fig. 4A is a front view exemplarily showing a ring gear structure of a toner bottle according to a second mode of the present invention. FIG. 4B is a side view which exemplarily shows the ring gear structure of the toner bottle shown in FIG. 4A. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view exemplarily showing a representative structure of a toner bottle according to a third mode of the present invention. Fig. 6 is a perspective view schematically showing a shape of a preform for producing a toner bottle according to the present invention by biaxial stretching and blow molding. Fig. 7 shows one way in which the preform shown in Fig. 6 is subjected to biaxial stretching and blow molding to prepare a toner bottle. Fig. 8 is a perspective view schematically showing a container for supplying a developer in the prior art. Fig. 9 is a perspective view schematically showing another container for supplying a developer in the prior art. FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing an image forming method of the present invention by the image forming apparatus of the present invention. Fig. 11 is another exemplary view for showing the image forming method of the present invention by the image forming apparatus of the present invention. Fig. 12 is a schematic view showing an image forming method of the present invention by an image forming apparatus of the invention of a tandem-type color device. [Description of main component symbols] a Toner supply inlet-32- 200537261 (29) 10 Toner bottle 11 Cylindrical bottle 12 Spiral concave surface 13a Spiral rib 13b Linear rib 14 Axial center 15 Cylindrical orifice 16 Connection and extension Parts 17 Shoulder 18 Ring Gear 19 Ring Bottom End 20 Ring Ferrule 2 1 Bottom 28 Tumbler 30 Toner Bottle
3 2 3 3 34 圓柱形瓶子 圓柱形孔口 凸緣 突出部份 3 5 環套圈 36 環突出部份 4 0 影像顯像器 4 1 環齒輪 42 凹面 -33 200537261 (30) 42C 顯像劑槽 42K 顯像劑槽 42M 顯像劑槽 42Y 顯像劑槽 4 3 C 餵入滾輪 4 3 K 餵入滾輪 43M 餵入滾輪 ^ 43Y 餵入滾輪 44C 顯像滾輪 4 4 K 顯像滾輪 44M 顯像滾輪 44Y 顯像滾輪 45C 顯像單元 45K 顯像單元 4 5 Μ 顯像單元 _ 45Υ 顯像單元 49 滾輪 50 碳粉瓶 5 1 環齒輪 5 1a 圓盤 5 1 b 環齒 5 2 圓柱形瓶子 53 圓柱形孔口 58 充電器 -34 200537261 (31) 60 塑坯 6 1 環齒輪 62 圓柱形孔口 63 淸潔器 64 電荷消除器 70 模製工具 7 2 伸展栓銷 7 3 托載栓銷 80 碳粉匣 8 1 孔□ 82 肋條 83 環齒輪 84 凹入部份 90 淸潔器 9 1 碳粉瓶3 2 3 3 34 Cylindrical bottle Cylindrical orifice flange protruding part 3 5 Ring ferrule 36 Ring protruding part 4 0 Image developer 4 1 Ring gear 42 Concave-33 200537261 (30) 42C Developer tank 42K developer tank 42M developer tank 42Y developer tank 4 3 C feed roller 4 3 K feed roller 43M feed roller ^ 43Y feed roller 44C developer roller 4 4 developer roller 44M developer roller 44Y developing roller 45C developing unit 45K developing unit 4 5 Μ developing unit _ 45Υ developing unit 49 roller 50 toner bottle 5 1 ring gear 5 1a disc 5 1 b ring tooth 5 2 cylindrical bottle 53 cylindrical Orifice 58 Charger-34 200537261 (31) 60 Preform 6 1 Ring gear 62 Cylindrical orifice 63 Cleaner 64 Charge eliminator 70 Molding tool 7 2 Extension bolt 7 3 Loading bolt 80 Toner cartridge 8 1 hole □ 82 rib 83 ring gear 84 recessed part 90 cleaner 9 1 toner bottle
孔口 軸心 94 引導保護裝置 9 4a 凹面 95 環齒輪 96 驅動馬達 97 驅動齒輪 1〇〇 影像形成設備 1 1 〇 感光鼓 -35 200537261Orifice Axis 94 Guide protection device 9 4a Concave surface 95 Ring gear 96 Drive motor 97 Drive gear 100 Image forming equipment 1 1 〇 Photoreceptor drum -35 200537261
(32) 1 1 oc 光 電 導 體 1 1 OK 光 電 導 體 1 1 OM 光 電 導 體 1 1 0 Y 光 電 導 體 1 14 支 撐 滾 輪 115 支 撐 滾 輪 116 支 撐 滾 輪 117 淸 潔 器 118 影 像 形 成 裝 置 120 充 電 滾 輪 12 1 光 線 照 射 器 122 影 像 轉 印 器 123 滾 輪 124 轉 印 皮 帶 125 影 像 固 著 器 126 影 像 固 著 皮 帶 127 壓 力 滾 輪 130 壓 盤 142 滾 輪 143 貯 紙 器 144 送 紙 器 卡 匣 145 滾 輪 146 送 紙 器 路 徑 147 滾 輪 -36 200537261 (33) 14 8 送紙器路徑 150 主體 200 送紙器平台 220 影像形成設備 3 0 0 掃描器 400 自動文件送紙器 T 碳粉(32) 1 1 oc photoconductor 1 1 OK photoconductor 1 1 OM photoconductor 1 1 0 Y photoconductor 1 14 support roller 115 support roller 116 support roller 117 cleaner 118 image forming device 120 charging roller 12 1 light irradiator 122 Image transfer unit 123 Roller 124 Transfer belt 125 Image holder 126 Image fixing belt 127 Pressure roller 130 Platen 142 Roller 143 Paper container 144 Feeder cassette 145 Roller 146 Feeder path 147 Roller-36 200537261 (33 ) 14 8 Feeder path 150 Main body 200 Feeder platform 220 Image forming device 3 0 0 Scanner 400 Automatic document feeder T Toner
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